Automatic sorting device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for the automatic sorting of measured components according to ranges of the measured values. A sorting tray is provided for each range of values. A measurement causes positioning of a supply device by movement in one or more steps in the X and Y directions. Each measured component is conveyed to the sorting tray associated with its measured value. The step-wise movement of the supply device is produced either by means of two stepping motors or by rotary magnets the movement of which is transmitted to the supply device through a mechanical coupling system.

United States Patent 1 Otten et al.

[451 Sept. 24, 1974 AUTOMATIC SORTING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Hans Otten, Reinbek', Helmut Heinze; Heinz Miiller, both of Hamburg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New

' York, NY.

22 Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 338,082

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 24, 1972 Germany 2214416 [52] US. Cl. 209/74 R, 193/31 R [51] Int. Cl. B070 3/02 [58] Field of Search 209/74 R, 73;, 193/31 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,142 1/1962 Brown 209/74 R Scott 193/31 R X Abraham 209/74 R [5 7 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a device for the automatic sorting of measured components according to ranges of the measured values. A sorting tray is provided for each range of values. A measurement causes positioning of a supply device by movement in one or more steps in the X and Y directions. Each measured component is conveyed to the sorting tray associated with its measured value. The step-wise movement of the supply device is produced either by means of two stepping motors or by rotary magnets the movement of which is transmitted to the supply device through a mechanical coupling system.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPZMBH I 3.837.485

' mam ear 2 Y AUTOMATIC SORTING DEVICE The invention relates to a device for the automatic sorting of measured components according to ranges of their measured values. A sorting tray is provided for each range and the measured value produces the positioning of a supply device. Each component is conveyed to the sorting tray with its measured value by a supply device.

In mass production of components it is often required to sort or group the components according to different characteristic quantities.

It has already been proposed (German Auslegeschrift No. 1,265,305) to automatically sort semiconductor elements according to their different measured values. This is carried out so that current or voltage pulses of a constant value are supplied to a semiconductor element to be measured; the value of the pulses influenced by the semiconductor element can be compared in a comparison device with separate stages of a current value and voltage value, respectively, increasing or decreasing in a step-like manner and proportioned in accordance with the previously determined groups. As soon as one of the stages has reached the value of the pulses influenced by the semiconductor element, an

electric device, for example a relaxation stage, is switched on which either indicates, through a control lamp associated with a given sorting tray, with which group the semiconductor element is associated, an operator delivering the semiconductor element in the relevant sorting tray, or the semiconductor element being automatically delivered in an associated sorting tray.

It is also known to perform the automatic supply by means of a supply device into which the measured component drops after the supply device has automatically been moved to a position in which the component, falling through the supply device, can reach a sorting tray corresponding to the measured parameter. In this known method the sorting trays are arranged on a round table and the supply device travels along the circumference of a circle until the desired position is reached. A drawback of this device is the long tracks which the supply device has to cover and the associated long processing time.

It is the object of the invention to shorten the processing time of an automatic sorting device. According to the invention this problem is solved by providing apertures of the sorting trays in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, the supply device being provided with driving mechanisms which can be controlled in the X and Y directions and which can move the supply device in the X and Y directions to any aperture of a sorting tray by controlling in one or more steps.

The supply device can be moved in many ways either by movement in one or more steps by two stepping motors, the stepping movement of which is transmitted in a slip-free manner to the supply device, or by movement in one or more steps forwards or backwards by separately moved coupling elements individually associated with each position to be controlled in the X or Y direction. The movement of said elements is restricted by stop members the number of which corresponds to the positions to be controlled in the X or Y direction. The coupling elements are closed bent wire braces which are rectangular at one end and taper at the other end. They are moved via belts by the movement of levers secured to rotary magnets, the wire braces embracing and taking along the supply device with their rectangularly bent side.

The supply device may also be constructed in a variety of manners. According to further embodiments of the invention the supply device may consist of a telescopic tube, a nozzle connected to the telescopic tube and two rectangularly crossed rails, the nozzle being connected to the two rails in such manner that the mobility hereof is ensured. On the other hand, the supply device may consist of a tube suspended on gimbals and two rectangularly crossed drawing plates which are connected to the brace wires. In order to check whether the component to be sorted has indeed passed through the supply device, the supply device may be provided with a photosensitive cell at the end facing the sorting tray.

In order to check whether the position to be controlled in the X and Y directions was actually achieved by the supply device, a checking device which establishes the actually achieved position of the supply device and compares it with the position to be controlled, is constructed so that a light source is provided on each drawing plate and that photosensitive elements are provided beside each other both in the X and in the Y direction at the level of the light sources, the number of the said elements corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X or Y direction.

The advantages of the invention are that an automatic sorting in the mass production of components can be carried out very rapidly and with a high degree of accuracy.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and will be described in greater detail.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sorting device in which the supply device is moved by two stepping motors,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sorting device in which the supply device is moved by separate coupling elements.

In order to be able to perform movements in the X and in the Y direction, the device according to the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises two stepping motors l and 2 which are provided with their shafts at right angles to each other. On the elongation of the shafts, toothed wheels 3 are provided for the motor 1 and toothed wheels 4 are provided for the motor 2. Parallel with respect to the shafts of the stepping motors 1 and 2, two auxiliary shafts with the toothed wheels 3 for the motor 1 and toothed wheels 4 for the motor 2 are provided. Geared belts 7 and 7 are provided on the toothed wheels 3 and 3' and geared belts 8 and 8' are provided on the toothed wheels 4 and 4. Two rails 11 and 11 are secured on the geared belts 7, 7', and 8, 8 in such manner that they cross each other. So each of the rails 11 and 11 can follow the movement of the geared belts on which said rails is secured. At the crossing of the two rails 11 and 11, a square sliding member with a funnel 13 as a nozzle 10 of the supply device for the components to be sorted in two groups is secured so that the two rails 11 and 11' are not impeded in their forward or backward movement and the nozzle 10 remains at the crossing of the two rails 11 and 11' during any movement of the rails 11 and 11. A telescopic tube 9 is connected to the nozzle 10 in such manner that the end of the telescopic tube falls in the edge of the funnel 13. A plate 14 having holes 15 is present below the crossed rails 11 and 11; said plate serves as a sorting matrix and the holes 15 correspond to the positions to be controlled in the X or Y direction. The holes 15 are connected to individual guide tubes 16 which open into the associated sorting trays.

Sorting occurs according to the following scheme: with the position to be controlled in the X or Y direction correspond steps of the stepping motor, which steps are determined via a control pulse of a control apparatus; the motors of the above-described embodiment make 200 steps per revolution. After the two motors have performed the number of steps corresponding to the position to be controlled, the two rails 11 and 11 have been taken along by the geared belts 7, 7', 8 and 8 on which they are secured until they have reached the correct place.

The nozzle 10 with funnel 13 secured to the crossing of the rails 11 and 11' and in the edge of which the end of the telescopic tube 9 is present, serves as a passage for the components to be sorted. In an adapted manner, the two rails 11 and 11 have in their centre elongate apertures 12 and 12' extending transversely relative to the direction of movement, which apertures form at their crossing a square passage for the neck of the funnel 13. The components pass the telescopic tube 9, the funnel 13, the conical holes 15 of the plate 14 serving as a sorting matrix, and through the guide tubes 16 they land in the sorting trays corresponding to the measured result.

The motors used for this embodiment have a power of 12 W(4 A, 3V). One operation lasts one second and consists of the supply track moving to the desired position, plus the stay at that position, plus the falling time of the component plus the time to travel back to the zero position. Simultaneously with this operation time a measurement for the next component is performed; the measured results can be stored and be called as soon as a sorting operation is finished.

The zero position for the telescopic tube 9 is in the centre of the plate 14. After each sorting operation the zero position is occupied to eliminate counting errors of the stepping motor as early as possible. It would be feasible to incorporate said check by controlling to the zero position only each time after a number of sorting treatments so as to increase the sequence of operations.

The rails 11 and 11' consist of resilient band steel having a thickness of 1 mm. In this embodiment the length is 290 mm and the width is 20 mm.

The plate 14 of the above-described device consists of steel and has the following dimensions: 160 X 160 mm, thickness of the plate 8 mm having 144 conical holes 15 having a diameter of 10 and 6 mm, respectively, the largest diameter facing the telescopic tube 9. Said telescopic tube 9 consists of brass and has an inner diameter of 6 mm and an average length of 40 mm.

A brake disk is provided for each motor shaft as a load.

Two safety switches are vice in the case of control errors.

In the device according to the second embodiment (FIG. 3) two drawing plates 24 and 24 crossed at right angles are moved in the X and Y directions in a manner corresponding to the rails 11 and 11. At the crossing of the drawing plates a supply tube 23 is present in the present to safeguard the de centre through which tube the components to be sorted in groups and originating from the measuring device can be provided, through guide tubes 27 provided below the plates 24 and 24, in sorting trays corresponding to the measured results.

In the centre the plates 24 and 24 have elongate apertures 26 and 26 which extend at right angles to the direction of movement and which constitute at their crossing a passage for the components.

The movement of the two plates 24 and 24' is achieved by separately controlled and moved coupling elements in the form of wire braces 20 which at one end enclose the plates 24 and 24' in rectangular apertures 25 and 25' at the two ends and are secured to belts 19 at the other end which belts lead to levers secured on the shaft of rotary magnets via guide rollers, control pulses being supplied to the rotary magnets in accordance with the positions to be controlled. During each positioning operation the plates are subjected at both ends to a pulling force and therefore each time oppositely located rotary magnets co-operate in pairs. The limit of the drawing movement occurs via two pairs of alignment plates 22 which have step-like abutments 21 and are provided below the rectangular apertures 25 and 25 of the plates 24 and 24 in such manner that the wire braces 20 enclose these each time together with the plates 24 and 24 in the step-like abutments 21. The alignment plates 22 associated in pairs with a plate 24 or 24' are provided so that each time the lowest and the highest step of the step-like abutments 21 are present opposite to each other. In order to avoid complexity of the drawing, only one pair of wire braces 20 is shown. The height of the steps of the step-like abutments 21 corresponds to the line and column distance, respectively, of the positions to be controlled.

After the plates 24 and 24 have reached a control position they can be maintained by magnets so that the rotary magnets can return to their starting position and the control which determined the position can be nullified. As a result of this the sequence of operations of the device can be considerably increased.

The supply tube 23 through which the components can enter the sorting trays in accordance with the measured result via guide tubes 27 provided beside each other below the plates 24 and 24' in the X and Y directions passes through the elongate apertures 26 and 26' of the plates 24 and 24 and terminates immediately above the guide tubes 27; in this manner the supply tube is taken along by the plates 24 and 24 in any movement in the X or Y direction. On its upper side (not shown) the tube 23 is suspended on gimbals, its end facing the tubes 27 thus moves according to the surface of a sphere. In this case the tube 23 is not constructed telescopically but the ends of the guide tube 27 are present on a corresponding spherical surface.

In order to check the passage, a photosensitive cell (not shown) is provided at the emanating end of the tube 23 of the supply device. For establishing each actually achieved position and for comparison with the position to becontrolled, a checking device is used which is constructed so that on every plate 24 and 24' light sources 28 and 28, respectively, are provided and that both in the X direction and in the Y direction photosensitive elements (not shown) are provided beside each other at the level of the light sources 28 and 28, the number of said elements corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X direction or in the Y direction.

The dimensions of the devices depend upon the components to be sorted.

The accuracy of the adjustment of the positions to be controlled in the device according to this embodiment depends only on the arrangement of the abutments 21 but not on elements which serve for the transmission of the movement; with a view to short adjusting times, the construction can thus be carried out as a light-weight construction.

The device described with reference to the second embodiment may have the following dimensions: tube 23 of the supply device:

length 200 mm, inner diameter 4 mm;

plates 24 and 24': length 150 mm, width 70 mm,

thickness of the plates 2 mm;

guide tubes 27: inner diameter 5 mm;

wire bases long axis 60 mm, short axis 10 mm.

By using variable cycle times, the average time for a sorting operation is minimised. This time is mainly determined by the transport time of the component from the measuring device to the sorting matrix (guide tubes 27 provided beside each other in the X and Y directions) and is in the order of magnitude of 0.5 sec. (the track to the desired position 0.15 second plus stay 0.05 second plus falling time to passing the photosensitive cell at the end of the tube 23 0.3 second).

What is claimed is: g

l. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being closed wire braces carried on movable belts and arranged for independent movement, said supply device comprising a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arranged horizontally with respect to the direction of said tube, said plates arranged one on top of the other so as to cross each other at right angles, said wire braces being connected to a respective crossed plate for moving same, and an'adjusting plate carried by each of the crossed plates having step-like recesses for limiting the movement of said wire braces, the number of said recesses corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the Xand Y directions.

2. The sorting device according to claim 1 wherein said crossed plates are each provided with an elongated center slot extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of its respective crossed plate, and a rectangular aperture in each of said crossed plates in which said wire braces are engaged, said adjusting plates being carried below said rectangular apertures so that said braces simultaneously engage a crossed plate and one of said step-like recesses of an adjusting plate.

3. The sorting device according to claim 2 wherein said tube extends through said elongated slots of both crossed plates so as to move freely with the crossed plates upon movement thereof.

4. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being closed wire braces carried on movable belts and arranged for independent movement, said supply device comprising a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arranged horizontally with respect to the direction of said tube, said plates arranged one on top of the over so as to cross each other at right angles, said wire braces being connected to a respective crossed plate for moving same so that forward and backward movement of the coupling elements is transmitted to the supply device so that a pulling force is exerted on said cross plates, and an adjusting plate carried by each of the crossed plates having step-like recesses for limiting the movement of said wire braces, the number of said recesses corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said wire braces engaging one of said recesses so that the shortest recess of one of said adjusting plates is located opposite the longest recess of the oppositely oriented adjusting plate carried by the same crossed plate.

5. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, and a checking device which establishes the actually acheived position of said supply device and compares it with the position to be controlled.

6. The sorting device according to claim 5 wherein said supply device comprises a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arrangedhorizontally with respect to each other and extending at right angles to each other, said checking device comprising a light source carried on each of said crossed plates, and photosensitive elements provided beside each other in the X and Y directions at the level of said light sources, the number of said elements corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions.

7. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, said supply device having a tube for conveying said components to said trays, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, and a photosensitive cell carried at the end of said tube facing said trays for checking the passage of said components.

8. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of compo nents, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, two stepping motors connected to said supply device for causing movement thereof in one or more steps, and means for transmitting stepping movement of said motors to said supply device in a slip free manner so as to accurately position said supply device.

9. The sorting device according to claim 8 wherein said supply device comprises two crossed rails each having central elongated slots extending ina direction transverse to the direction of movement of said rails, a tube for conveying said components to said trays, a nozzle connected to said tube being guided in the slots of both of said rails, a funnel carried by said nozzle the neck of which is substantially equal to the width of said slots so that said funnel projects through said slots of said rails, and wherein said transmission means connects said output of said motors to said rails for causing movement thereof.

10. The sorting device according to claim 9 wherein said transmission means comprises first and second pairs of toothed wheels carried on the output of each stepping motor, and first and second geared belts carried between the toothed wheels of each pair of wheels for the X and Y directions, one of said rails being carried between the first and second belts of the X direction, the other of said rails being carried between the first and second belts of the Y direction so that said rails cross each other.

11. The sorting device according to claim 9 further comprising an apertured plate carried below said supply device having juxtaposed conical holes in a plane extending in the X and Y directions, a sorting tray being associated with each hole of said apertured plate, and a guide tube provided as a connection between each conical hole and its respective sorting tray.

12. The sorting device according to claim 11 wherein the diameter of said conical holes of said apertured plate and the diameter of said funnel are substantially equal so as to provide shock-free transition.

13. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being arranged for independent movement, a plurality of abutments for limiting the movement of said coupling elements, the number of said abutments corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said coupling elements being closed wire braces, and movable belts carrying said braces for causing movement thereof, said belts being moved by levers secured to rotary magnets.

14. A device for automatically sorting electical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being arranged for independent movement, a plurality of abutments for limiting the movement of said coupling elements, the number of said abutments corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said abutments being step-like recesses on a movable adjustment plate.

tubes at the center of saidarray.

fg g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 8 5 Dated September 24, 1974 Inventor(s) HANS OTTEN ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In theHeading:

under "Priority Data" "2214416" should be -P2214416..7'--

' Signed and sealed this 17th day' of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being closed wire braces carried on movable belts and arranged for independent movement, said supply device comprising a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arranged horizontally with respect to the direction of said tube, said plates arranged one on top of the other so as to cross each other at right angles, said wire braces being connected to a respective crossed plate for moving same, and an adjusting plate carried by each of the crossed plates having step-like recesses for limiting the movement of said wire braces, the number of said recesses corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions.
 2. The sorting device according to claim 1 wherein said crossed plates are each provided with an elongated center slot extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of its respective crossed plate, and a rectangular aperture in each of said crossed plates in which said wire braces are engaged, said adjusting plates being carried below said rectangular apertures so that said braces simultaneously engage a crossed plate and one of said step-like recesses of an adjusting plate.
 3. The sorting device according to claim 2 wherein said tube extends through said elongated slots of both crossed plates so as to move freely with the crossed plates upon movement thereof.
 4. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being closed wire braces carried on movable belts and arranged for independent movement, said supply device comprising a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arranged horizontally with respect to the direction of said tube, said plates arranged one on top of the over so as to cross each other at right angles, said wire braces being connected to a respective crossed plate for moving same so that forward And backward movement of the coupling elements is transmitted to the supply device so that a pulling force is exerted on said cross plates, and an adjusting plate carried by each of the crossed plates having step-like recesses for limiting the movement of said wire braces, the number of said recesses corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said wire braces engaging one of said recesses so that the shortest recess of one of said adjusting plates is located opposite the longest recess of the oppositely oriented adjusting plate carried by the same crossed plate.
 5. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, and a checking device which establishes the actually acheived position of said supply device and compares it with the position to be controlled.
 6. The sorting device according to claim 5 wherein said supply device comprises a tube suspended on gimbals for conveying said components, and two crossed plates arranged horizontally with respect to each other and extending at right angles to each other, said checking device comprising a light source carried on each of said crossed plates, and photosensitive elements provided beside each other in the X and Y directions at the level of said light sources, the number of said elements corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions.
 7. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, said supply device having a tube for conveying said components to said trays, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, and a photosensitive cell carried at the end of said tube facing said trays for checking the passage of said components.
 8. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, two stepping motors connected to said supply device for causing movement thereof in one or more steps, and means for transmitting stepping movement of said motors to said supply device in a slip free manner so as to accurately position said supply device.
 9. The sorting device according to claim 8 wherein said supply device comprises two crossed rails each having central elongated slots extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said rails, a tube for conveying said components to said trays, a nozzle connected to said tube beIng guided in the slots of both of said rails, a funnel carried by said nozzle the neck of which is substantially equal to the width of said slots so that said funnel projects through said slots of said rails, and wherein said transmission means connects said output of said motors to said rails for causing movement thereof.
 10. The sorting device according to claim 9 wherein said transmission means comprises first and second pairs of toothed wheels carried on the output of each stepping motor, and first and second geared belts carried between the toothed wheels of each pair of wheels for the X and Y directions, one of said rails being carried between the first and second belts of the X direction, the other of said rails being carried between the first and second belts of the Y direction so that said rails cross each other.
 11. The sorting device according to claim 9 further comprising an apertured plate carried below said supply device having juxtaposed conical holes in a plane extending in the X and Y directions, a sorting tray being associated with each hole of said apertured plate, and a guide tube provided as a connection between each conical hole and its respective sorting tray.
 12. The sorting device according to claim 11 wherein the diameter of said conical holes of said apertured plate and the diameter of said funnel are substantially equal so as to provide shock-free transition.
 13. A device for automatically sorting electrical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being arranged for independent movement, a plurality of abutments for limiting the movement of said coupling elements, the number of said abutments corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said coupling elements being closed wire braces, and movable belts carrying said braces for causing movement thereof, said belts being moved by levers secured to rotary magnets.
 14. A device for automatically sorting electical components into groups according to their measured values comprising a plurality of sorting trays for receiving each group of components, apertures associated with each of said trays being arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the X and Y directions, a supply device arranged for movement in the X and Y directions for supplying a measured component to a selected aperture of a sorting tray for the selected group of components, a driving mechanism for moving said supply device in the X and Y directions in response to the measurement of a component by a control in one or more steps, first and second coupling elements for moving said supply device backwards and forwards in one or more steps in the X and Y directions respectively, said coupling elements being arranged for independent movement, a plurality of abutments for limiting the movement of said coupling elements, the number of said abutments corresponding to the positions to be controlled in the X and Y directions, said abutments being step-like recesses on a movable adjustment plate.
 15. The sorting device according to claim 14 further comprising an array of juxtaposed guide tubes for connecting said supply device to said sorting trays, the ends of the tubes on the outside perimeter of said array being closer to saId supply device than the ends of the tubes at the center of said array. 